My Latina Obsession

I know we're not supposed to have idols, but I have one . . . Shakira. Here are a few things I like about her:

• Her unique voice
• Her voluminous hair
• Her versatile fashion
• Her spunky music videos
• Her radiant confidence
• Her riped abs

Watching her videos gets me all motivated to go work out in hopes to get her rock hard body. Listening to her music makes me feel like I'm a sexy Colombian. Pathetically,some days I even style my hair with a 3 barrel iron because I want to try to get Shakira's voluminous hair, even though Daveed hates it.

My most recent music video obsession is Loca! This music video screams spontaneity and fun! I love the beat and her dancing. I only wish I could understand more Spanish so I could sing-a-long better! For now, I will just dance.

The First of March

The First of March is a glorious day in Rexburg, Idaho. It means that I made it through February. Before I moved up to Rexburg in 2006, I took a tour of the BYU-Idaho campus with my sister, Maxene, and my dad in December. As we walked the windy sidewalks on campus Maxene and I complained about how cold it was. My dad replied, "If you think this is cold, just wait till February."

At the time I thought he was just kidding, but little did I know in a few months I would know exactly what he was talking about. Let me paint a picture of what Rexburg looks like in February:

• Boogers freeze to your nose hairs
• Students fall to their butts as they slip on black ice
• People push stalled cars at every block
• At lease ten degrees below zero every night
• Jeans become stiffer than a board
• Sacrificing fashion for warmth

One semester Maxene and I took a night class together every Wednesday night. One night our teacher announced that it was negative 13 degrees outside. He said we had about three minutes to get into a warm place before we would get frost bite. Three minutes? I barely had enough time to put on my gloves, scarf, and hat. I wanted to cry. That night we ran home as fast as we could without slipping on the black ice.

March 20 is the first day of spring. I cannot wait until that day arrives; however, I am ecstatic that I made it through February. I know it is all downhill from here. I feel like a bear waking up from a long winters nap. Three months and seven pounds later, I am ready to get out of hibernating and start running again in nicer weather.

Dad always knows best.

Two years down, Eternity to go!

Today was Daveed's and my second wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that two years have already gone by since that cold, but happy, winter day.

Getting married to Daveed was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I don't regret any moment. I am so grateful that God put us two together that cold, February afternoon in the Nordic cafeteria. Ever since we laid eyes on each other, well.... the rest was history.

Last night as we snuggled in bed, I said to Daveed, "I feel bad. I didn't get you anything for our anniversary." Daveed responded, "The best gift is being here with you, right here, right now." Aish... He is the best!!! Que romantico, no?

Since that day when we decided to become as "one" on December 19, 2008, we have acquired a few things: new and used furniture, a bachelor's degree from BYU-I, David's American residency, 10-speed bikes, a bread maker, and an electric piano to name just a few. We've also taken several memorable trips: Colombia, Brian's Head Resort, Colorado adventures, and many many more.

But of all the things and places, nothing tops our newest addition to the family: a new puppy, Coco!!! I am not an animal person. In fact, I generally hate it when I go to someone's house and their dog jumps all over me. However, when Daveed and I laid eyes on Coco, we fell in love. I never understood how people could get so attached to their dogs, but now I know.

A few things I love about Coco:
1. He's more excited to see me at the end of the day than Daveed is (jk, but mostly serious)
2. He helps me forgive more: Sometimes I just want to cut his head off when he's chewing my shoes, but then he looks at me with those beautiful, brown eyes and it's hard to keep being mad at him.
3. He's so full of energy. It seems like we could play fetch for hours.
4. He needs a walk. This makes me and Daveed go on long walks together. It's so fun playing in the park with him.
5. He's my new running partner. He can run faster and longer than me it seems like - he's a great 10K trainer!
6. He's my own personal space heater. He snuggles right on top of me at night and keeps me so warm.
It must be nice to be a dog: Eat, sleep, play, eat, sleep, play, etc.

Today for our anniversary, we took Coco for a LONG walk in the Aurora Dog Park. It was so much fun. Taking Coco to the dog park is like taking a six year old to DisneyWorld. He was SO excited. It was his first time being around, literally, fifty other dogs. He made so many friends, only one enemy, and many memories. Afterward, we gave him a warm bath and he took several long naps.

Everyone says the first year of marriage is rough. At times it was rough, especially when Daveed didn't replace the toilet paper or when he left his socks inside-out in the laundry basket (just kidding). The second year has been a blast - especially with Coco's presence. Daveed is the best and so is Coco. I can't wait for what the rest of our lives will bring us. I'm so glad I get to spend eternity with Daveed. I only hope that Coco can too!


P.S. Everyone should get a dog. It brings complete happiness!!
P.P.S. Our own kids will come soon enough, but for now, we are enjoying Coco. We will have kids, I promise.

Cast Your Votes!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The invitations have arrived. They are all unique and hilarious! Please vote for your favorite one/the one that you think is the best out of all four. (Please see my previous blog post for rules of the Halloween Invitation Contest. You will see how important your votes are to us.) Post your vote as a comment following this blog post or on facebook on anyone of my sister's pages. You can click on the image to enlarge it, if needed. Once the winner is announced, we will reveal who made each invitation. So with much pleasure, I present the invitations. Drumroll please . . . .

Invitation #1:


Invitation #2:



Invitation #3:






Invitation #4/Seven page handbook:

Halloween Contest

This blog goes mostly out to Maxi and Kelly (and Brook if she ever looks at it):

BEWARE!!

My Halloween invitation is coming your way bright and early Monday morning. This was my idea, and I'll be damned if I lose.

To all those who would like to know what's going on, here are the rules to our contest:

1. Make a Halloween invitation for a Halloween party and have it in the mail by October 11th.

2. Audience will vote for their favorite invitation via our blogs.

3. The invitation with the most votes actually gets to throw the party!

4. Losers have to actually go to the party. This means if Kelly or Maxi wins, I have to drive to Colorado which hopefully doesn't happen because I am broke. If Brook or I win, Kelly and Maxi have to come up to Idaho for the party. However, I know that Maxi probably won't come because she is a mom now, and who knows if Brook will really come either. . . Basically it will be me and Kelly who actually attend the party.

5. Winner of the best Halloween invitation gets to chose whatever blog background for the losers to put up for a MONTH! (P.S. I'm thinking trolls, werewolves, avatars, unicorns, etc. Be afraid girls!)

This all started because I invited Kelly and Nate to Idaho for Halloween this year to go through the corn maze with David and me. Kelly said that probably wouldn't work for them. But I kept asking and pushing, and somehow Nate is not even in the picture now and it has turned into another sister event! haha I can be very manipulative sometimes, but I'm not even sure how this got turned around so fast. "Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean that really got out of hand fast!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VePxbFQ-qfw

Anyway - Maxi and Kelly- I can't wait to throw my Halloween party. It's going to be the event of the year. You two might as well start booking flights.

"And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

Homesick

This summer David and I moved to Colorado for his internship. We moved in with our parents and family in a 3 bedroom apartment. It has been a very close-knit summer, but I feel a void inside. Yesterday as I walked outside in the hot sun, I tried to treasure the warmth, because pretty soon we will be back in Idaho and there will be no generous heat. Last night I realized that when David and I go back to Idaho for his last two semesters, I'll have lived in Rexburg for five years! I never thought I would be there for that long, but the best part is, I don't mind it. I actually wouldn't mind living in Idaho a few more years.

There's a couple things that I miss about Idaho right now.
1. The bright stars in the crisp, cool air each night.
2. Midnight runs to Winco.
3. Running up and around the beautiful Rexburg temple.
4. Playing pick-up soccer games on Saturday mornings.
5. Sneaking in Taco Bell into the dollar movie theater.
6. Biking to the snow shack to get a Tiger Blood snow cone.
7. Visiting all of our friends that are our age and having family so close by.
8. Eating at the taco bus.
9. Renting a movie from the local gas station, Horkleys, and buying a 50 cent huge 80 ounce or so drink.
10. Playing golf for $6.00.
11. Saturday shopping trips to Idaho Falls.
12. Social work opportunities left and right.
13. Hitting up the last hour of Latin dances on Friday nights.
14. Slow to no traffic on the highway.
15. Relaxed, slow pace of life with beautiful nature all around.

I'm not annoyed of my family, but I am feeling crowded. I can't wait to get into our own apartment. I am homesick. So when we get back from Colombia in August, our next step will be unpacking our 10 by 10 and enjoying our space in Rexburg, Idaho - the place where dreams come true!!

10 by 10

It's been a little over a month now living in my parent's apartment in Colorado. A lot has happened. Some big events: My dad got a job. My sister had her first baby (Lauren Brea). My friend had her first baby (Jadyn Lynn). My husband landed two internships and a landscaping job. I am officially a licensed social worker. Next step - find a social work job!

Some other fun things: I tried to go clubbing for the first time out on a girl's night and I was the only girl without her I.D. I've been golfing three times now. I've been cooking every Sunday--so far there have been two disasters and two successes. Cooking is harder than Ratatouille makes it seem. And I have learned that even though the title sounds delicious (i.e. Asparagus, Shrimp Dill Fettuccine), dill weed is disgusting! After mixing everything together and smelling the dill weed, I threw my experiment away and my loving sister and mom ran to the store to buy two cans of good ol' alfredo sauce. I also made orange chicken; however, it did not turn out like Panda Express'.

It's been so fun living with my family. We play a game we love called rummy at least twice a week. My husband and I are squeezed in a room in the apartment. I am grateful for a bed and overwhelmed with all of the things we have. We brought only the essentials to Colorado for the summer and I still feel like we could have left some stuff at home. I stressed way too much trying to fit all our belongings in a 10 by 10 in Rexburg and somehow we still had room.

I would love to simplify my life and only own one sweater, one pair of jeans, and five shirts. But it's so hard when I go shopping and see all the cute outfits, especially when they are on sale. There's something beautiful in living a simple life. I do not really miss all our things in that 10 by 10 because I'm enjoying the time with friends and family.